Moringa farmers in Tamil Nadu sitting on a goldmine, waiting for a quantum leap
PKM1, a variety of Moringa oleifera, has created a global impact, especially in countries such as Senegal, Rwanda and Madagascar in the African continent. Leaves and flowers of this tree provide macronutrients and micronutrients that are believed to combat malnutrition among children in these countries.
But, Tamil Nadu farmers are yet to capitalise on this lucrative business unfolding in the international market, say experts. Before the arrival of PKM1, there were about six native varieties of moringa (murungai). All these varieties were perennial crops, with trees surviving up to 30 years. These varieties were not commercially viable and were propagated by stem cutting.
Horticulture College and Research Institute at Periyakulam in Dindigul district has been given a mandate to develop high-yielding varieties of vegetables, including moringa. In the late 1980s, the PKM1 variety was introduced by the institute. Its Dean J. Rajangam says germplasm study from the existing varieties of moringa helped in the birth of PKM1 variety. Now, it has been raised on 5,000 acres in Dindigul region, says Deputy Director of Horticulture B. Gayathri.
The PKM1 variety, propagated through seeds, is an annual crop that gives a yield of 20 tonnes per acre in a year and has been well-accepted by farmers. S. Subbian of K. Pudukottai near Reddiyarchathiram says compared to the native varieties, this variety within begins to give yield within six months and regular pruning helps in sustaining the yield for three years after which the yield declines. With care, some of the trees give a yield of 37 kg of drumsticks. Unlike the native breed, PKM1 grows only to a height of six feet, thus it is easier for plucking. It helps the trees from vagaries of nature. since moringa is a fragile tree, the native varieties grow to a great height and they are easily destroyed in gale and heavy rains.
Though technology has given the farmers this high yielding variety, no steps have been taken to provide value addition or to create a Farmer Producer Organisation in this region. 'There is no government cold storage facility in this region. If we had one, we could keep our produce when the market is dull and sell it when the prices are high,' says Mr. Subbian.
Besides, there are no solar dryers too. If the self-help groups had them, the nutrient-rich leaves could be dried and powdered. No standard procedures for production and pruning of the trees are also in place.
Moreover, the leaves are merely considered a by-product of moringa cultivation. If the farmers need to get a share of the pie in the international market, then it is time markets are identified and steps initiated to bring together the farmers as a collective so that they can process the leaves and export them on their own.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
13 hours ago
- Time of India
Why Zimbabwe is turning to elephant meat to feed its hungry population
In a move that has drawn global attention and stirred controversy, Zimbabwe has announced plans to cull dozens of elephants and distribute their meat to local communities. This decision comes amid growing concerns over food insecurity and escalating human-wildlife conflicts in the drought-stricken southern African nation. While some hail it as a practical solution to an urgent crisis, others question the ethics and long-term ecological impact of such a measure. Why Zimbabwe is culling elephants Zimbabwe is home to one of the largest elephant populations in the world, with an estimated 84,000 elephants residing within its borders. However, conservation officials have long warned that the country's protected parks and reserves can only sustainably support around 55,000. As numbers swell, elephants increasingly stray into human settlements, damaging crops, destroying homes, and occasionally causing injuries or deaths. In the Save Valley Conservancy, a private game reserve in the southeastern region of the country, the situation has become particularly critical. The conservancy is currently home to more than 2,500 elephants, over three times the sustainable limit of around 800. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like This Device Made My Power Bill Drop Overnight elecTrick - Save upto 80% on Power Bill Pre-Order Undo As a result, Zimbabwe's Parks and Wildlife Management Authority has approved the culling of at least 50 elephants in the area. Officials say the primary goal is to relieve the strain on the ecosystem, reduce conflicts with humans, and curb habitat destruction caused by the overpopulation of elephants. Additionally, with the country reeling from a devastating drought that has caused widespread crop failure, authorities believe that distributing elephant meat could help alleviate hunger in affected communities. Food security through wildlife management The distribution of elephant meat is not a new practice in Zimbabwe. In the past, such meat has been shared among local populations during periods of food scarcity or as a result of natural deaths and problem animal control operations. Now, as hunger intensifies in many regions due to climate change and poor rainfall, the government is once again turning to this option. According to reports, the meat from the culled elephants will be processed and handed out to people in rural areas where food insecurity is highest. This initiative, authorities argue, serves a dual purpose: managing wildlife populations and addressing nutritional deficits in impoverished areas. Neighboring countries like Namibia have also adopted similar approaches. Namibia recently announced that it would cull hundreds of wild animals, including elephants and hippos, and distribute the meat to communities affected by extreme drought. A divided debate While Zimbabwe's plan may appear pragmatic on the surface, it has been met with considerable criticism from international conservationists and animal rights activists. Critics argue that elephant culling is an outdated and unethical solution that disrupts social structures within elephant herds and undermines conservation efforts. There are also concerns about the message it sends globally. Elephants are iconic species that attract tourists from around the world. The fear is that repeated culling could damage Zimbabwe's tourism industry, which is a vital source of revenue for the nation. Furthermore, conservation experts suggest alternative strategies, such as translocation (moving elephants to less populated areas), enhancing community-based conservation programs, and investing in better fencing and deterrent methods. However, these alternatives require substantial funding and infrastructure, which Zimbabwe currently lacks. Conservation versus survival Zimbabwean authorities defend their decision by emphasizing the country's unique challenges. The government maintains that the culling operation is both humane and necessary. According to officials, the aim is not to eliminate elephants indiscriminately but to find a middle ground where both wildlife and humans can thrive. Zimbabwe has also been lobbying for the right to sell its vast stockpile of ivory, valued at over $600 million, to fund conservation efforts. However, global bans on the ivory trade have so far prevented such sales, leaving countries like Zimbabwe with limited options for managing growing elephant populations. The debate highlights a larger issue that many African countries face: how to balance wildlife conservation with the immediate needs of their citizens. Climate change, rising populations, and limited resources continue to push people and animals into increasingly direct conflict. Looking ahead Zimbabwe's elephant cull and meat distribution strategy reflects the complexity of managing conservation in a country grappling with poverty and climate-related crises. While the move may provide short-term relief, experts stress the importance of long-term solutions that involve investment in community resilience, education, and sustainable land-use practices. International cooperation and funding can also play a crucial role. Supporting African nations in developing non-lethal conservation strategies will be key to ensuring that both wildlife and human communities can coexist in harmony. As Zimbabwe takes this controversial step, it poses a difficult but important question for the global community: How do we support biodiversity while ensuring the survival of the people who share space with it?
Time of India
2 days ago
- Time of India
Zimbabwe to cull dozens of elephants to curb population and distribute meat to communities
Live Events (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel The southern African country, Zimbabwe , announced on Tuesday that it will slaughter dozens of elephants to control the population size and the meat from the carcasses will be distributed among the has the world's second largest elephant population after wildlife agency, Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority ZimParks ) said it has given permission to Save Valley Conservancy , a large private game reserve in the southeast, to carry out the elephant population control wildlife agency said it will first kill 50 elephants. It didn't say how many will be killed in total or how long the process will to a recent 2024 aerial survey, there are 2,550 elephants living in Save Valley Conservancy, however, the land can only support 800 elephants. Too many elephants can lead to damage to the ecosystem, including plants and other animals. The agency believes that reducing the number of elephants is necessary to protect the the past five years, at least 200 elephants have been translocated to other a statement, ZimParks said, "Elephant meat from the management exercise will be distributed to local communities while ivory will be state property that will be handed over to the ZimParks for safekeeping."Zimbabwe can't sell the ivory tusks due to worldwide ban on ivory spokesman Tinashe Farawo told ABC News on Wednesday that the "management exercise" is "not culling," as the latter "involves wiping [out] the whole herd in huge numbers."He did not respond to a question about how many elephants will be killed in total or how long the process will year, the wildlife authorities in Zimbabwe culled 200 elephants to provide food for communities that suffered from the drought. It was the first major cull since 1988 that took place in districts such as Hwange, Mbire, Tsholotsho and move to hunt the elephants for food has drawn sharp criticism worldwide, mainly because elephants are a source of attraction to many tourists.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Time of India
Few women leaders in education a serious concern, says global report
Representative AI image New Delhi: 'Most teachers are women, but few lead' is the central message of the 'Leadership in Education: Lead For Learning' section of the Global Education Monitoring (GEM) Report 2024-25, released on Wednesday night by UNESCO . The report highlights what is a problem across countries: the under-representation of women in leadership positions at all levels of the education system — from schools to education ministries. Globally, women make up 57% of secondary school teachers, but in most countries, the proportion of female principals lags the share of female teachers by at least 20 percentage points. This disparity exists despite growing evidence that gender-diverse leadership correlates with better learning outcomes and more enabling school environment. Similar is the story at the higher education level. While women comprise 45% of higher education faculty, they account for only 30% of leadership roles in universities and colleges. India is no exception to this phenomenon. While women dominate the teaching workforce in primary schools, accounting for over 60% of elementary teachers, their number declines sharply in leadership positions, particularly at the secondary and tertiary levels. Factors such as limited access to mentorship, lack of institutional support, safety concerns, and deep-rooted gender norms continue to restrict women's elevation to decision-making roles. The report also examines political leadership in the education sector. Between 2010 and 2023, only 27% of education ministers worldwide were women. This imbalance matters not only for representation purposes but also for policy priorities. Studies cited in the GEM report suggest that female political leaders are more likely to bat for equitable education funding, inclusive curricula, and community engagement. Countries with specific policies to promote gender equity in school leadership are clearly in the minority. Only 11% of countries globally have taken concrete steps to address the gender gap in principal recruitment. Some regions are taking proactive measures — for instance, several francophone African countries are piloting support programmes for female school leaders. The report says that students in such settings, with more schools led by women, were ahead in progress in mathematics and reading by at least six months compared to their peers in male-led schools. It calls for systemic reforms that move beyond token representation. Among the report's recommendations are transparent and gender-sensitive recruitment for leadership roles, targeted training and mentoring programmes for aspiring women leaders, and policies that enable flexible work arrangements and childcare support. As countries work towards Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG 4) of inclusive and equitable quality education, educational leadership must reflect the diversity of those it serves. Unless gender barriers in leadership are removed, progress in other aspects of educational equity may remain incomplete, the report has stressed.
